Mission Luxmibai: Self-Defense and Leadership Training for Girls in India
In Lucknow, India, many adolescent girls face barriers that keep them from education, safety, and opportunity. Violence, gender-based discrimination, economic hardship, and lack of support can push girls out of school and leave them without the tools to protect themselves or advocate for their futures.
GO Local Hero Tanzeem Akhtar is already doing the work to change that.
Through support from GO Campaign’s Women’s Giving Circle, Tanzeem and Youth for Equity and Social Change are putting funds directly into action through Mission Luxmibai, a project focused on self-defense, leadership development, gender-based violence prevention, and school enrollment support.
In September 2025, GO Campaign awarded a grant to Youth for Equity and Social Change to expand this work. To date, 701 girls have participated in the program.
Training Girls to Lead and Protect Themselves
Mission Luxmibai trains adolescent girls in self-defense and leadership so they can respond to threats, support one another, and take a more active role in their communities.
The project is also building a group of girl champions who can help identify risks, support survivors of gender-based violence, and create safer environments for other girls.
This is practical, direct work. Girls are gaining skills they can use now — in their schools, homes, and communities.
Removing Barriers to Education
Mission Luxmibai also works to help children from economically weaker and marginalized communities enroll in school under India’s Right to Education provision.
For girls who have been pushed out of education because of violence, poverty, or discrimination, enrollment support is a critical step. It helps move them from vulnerability toward safety, structure, and opportunity.
Local Hero Leadership in Action
GO Campaign invests in Local Heroes because they are already close to the need and ready to act. Tanzeem Akhtar understands the challenges facing girls in her community and has a clear plan to respond.
With WGC support, she is not starting from zero. She is expanding work that is already underway, reaching more girls, and moving resources quickly where they can make a direct impact.
Mission Luxmibai shows what happens when funding reaches the right local leader at the right time: girls receive training, protection, support, and a stronger path forward.
Funded by GO Campaign’s Women’s Giving Circle
GO Campaign’s Women’s Giving Circle supports locally led projects that advance safety, education, leadership, and opportunity for women and girls. Mission Luxmibai is one example of how WGC funding helps Local Heroes move quickly and create immediate impact.
Help fund more projects like this.
Join GO Campaign’s Women’s Giving Circle and support locally led projects creating opportunity for women and girls around the world.
Learn more and sign up: gocampaign.org/womens-giving-circle
